The city of Wausau, Wisconsin is located in the Wisconsin River Valley in Central Wisconsin. The city covers an area of 18.27 miles and is the County Seat of Marathon County, Wisconsin's largest county, covering 1,584 square miles. The 2000 census had Wausau's population listed as 38,426. The Wausau metro area has a census population of 78,614. The metro area consists of the communities of Wausau, Schofield, Rothschild, Weston, Kronenwetter, and Rib Mountain. Wausau has two major highways crossing through it, Interstate 39/Wisconsin 51 and highway 29. Major road reconstruction is taking place on these two highways which prompts some people to say Wausau has two seasons, Winter and Road Construction. Wausau is home to a world class kayak course and plays host to several international teams each year. I was a kayak judge at that course years ago, and served as the second president of the local kayak club. During the Winter months a ski hill operates on Rib Mountain and has 72 runs. Wausau was originally known as Big Bull Falls by the native Chippewa Indians.
